Last October, we witnessed a disturbing shift in schools and universities across the country. Following the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, antisemitic rhetoric surged to alarming levels. Students claiming to advocate for a “free Palestine” signed antisemitic proclamations, engaged in violent protests, and harassed Jewish students on campus. Their actions were so vile and virulent that they made headlines worldwide.

Last fall, telehealth company Hims & Hers made waves when their CEO praised anti-Israel protesters and declared that he was “eager” to hire them.
High-profile donors halted their financial contributions to these universities, while prominent alumni publicly criticized their alma maters for failing to address antisemitism and hold the worst offenders on campus accountable. In response to the escalating crisis, more than two dozen high-profile law firms signed a letter pledging that they would not hire graduates who participated in antisemitic activities. Several other businesses followed their lead. (READ MORE: Antisemitism Is Not a Major)
Because so few of these students were actually held accountable by university leadership, these efforts ensured they would face some form of consequence for their actions. These efforts also sent a clear message that hatred, harassment, and violence have no place in our society. They also served as a deterrent, discouraging other students from engaging in similarly hateful behavior.
For businesses, taking a stand against antisemitism in this manner offered an opportunity to set themselves apart. It signaled that these companies and their leaders were committed to confronting hate and supporting the Jewish community. At a time when businesses were facing widespread criticism for embracing DEI ideologies, these efforts gave business leaders an opportunity to highlight the poisonous results of dividing people into "oppressor" and "oppressed" categories.
Unfortunately, for some, these actions appear to have been l...